Viewing window in carton with pill package inserter

ABSTRACT

In the preferred embodiment, a paperboard carton is formed from a blank including a leading flap with a tapered tongue, a trailing flap with a groove removed therefrom, a bottom member with a tab upstruck therefrom, a plurality of fold lines, four sidewalls connected to the bottom member along the fold lines, sidewall overlapping and top support segments for increasing the structural rigidity of the carton, and a plurality of thermoformed plastic blisters supported by a rigid insert with one pill retained by each blister. The insert is secured to a tab extending upwardly from the bottom member so that the pills are in a face-up orientation within the erected carton. Identifying indicia imprinted on the insert, such as a batch number that indicates the batch from which the pills were formulated, is visible from the exterior of the carton through the viewing window formed by upstriking or die cutting the tab from the bottom member. In an alternative embodiment, arcuate slots are die cut in the corners of the bottom member so as to form triangularly shaped tab members extending upwardly above the bottom member. The ends of the rigid insert are slipped through the slots and into engagement with the underside of the tas so that the insert is retained in fixed position by a friction fit defined between the tabs and the bottom member. Identifying indicia imprinted on the insert is visible from the exterior of the carton through the viewing windows formed by upstriking the corners from the bottom member. Both embodiments of the carton can be resealed, after removal of the desired number of pills from the insert, by slipping the leading flap into the groove in the trailing flap.

United States Patent 1 Stone 1451 Sept. 4, 1973 VIEWING WINDOW IN CARTONWITH PILL PACKAGE INSERTER [75] Inventor: .Orison W. Stone, ValleyCottage,

[73] Assignee: R. A. Jones Company, Inc.,

Covington, Ky.

[22] Filed: Aug. 12, I971 [21] Appl. No.: 171,124

[52] US. Cl. 206/42, 40/312, 206/DIG. 29 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 83/04 [58]Field of Search 40/16, 124.1, 312,

40/313, 325, 329; 206/42, 45.31, 46 P, 56 AB, 78 R, 79, 80 R, DIG. 29;220/31 S;

Primary Examiner--l-Ierbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Steven E. LipmanAttorney-Schellin et a1.

57 ABSTRACT In the preferred embodiment, a paperboard carton is formedfrom a blank including a leading flap with a tapered tongue, a trailingflap with a groove removed therefrom, a bottom member with a tabupstruck therefrom, a plurality of fold lines, four sidewalls connectedto the bottom member along the fold lines, sidewall overlapping and topsupport segments for increasing the structural rigidity of the carton,and a plurality of thermoformed plastic blisters supported by a rigidinsert with one pill retained by each blister. The insert is secured toa tab extending upwardly from the bottom member so that the pills are ina face-up orientation within the erected carton. Identifying indiciaimprinted on the insert, such as a batch number that indicates the batchfrom which the pills were formulated,.is visible from the exterior ofthe carton through the viewing window formed by upstriking or diecutting the tab from the bottom member.

In an alternative embodiment, arcuate slots are die cut in the comers ofthe bottom member so as to form triangularly shaped tab membersextending upwardly above the bottom member. The ends of the rigid insertare slipped through the slots and into engagement with the underside ofthe tas so that the insert is retained in fixed position by a frictionfit defined between the tabs and the bottom member. Identifying indiciaimprinted on the insert is visible from the exterior of the cartonthrough the viewing windows formed by upstriking the corners from thebottom member. Both embodiments of the carton can be rescaled, afterremoval of the desired number of pills from the insert, by slipping theleading flap into the groove in the trailing flap.

3 Claims, 9 13mm PATENTEBSEP 4m 3.756384 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR ORISON W. STONE BY Z y y ATTORNEYS PATENIEDsEP 4 ms SHEET 2 BF2 FIG].

INVENTOR ORISON W. STONE BY MM) ATTORNEYS VIEWING WINDOW IN CARTON WITHPILL PACKAGE INSERTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The invention relates generally to resealable paperboardcartons with pill package inserts, and more particularly to uniquecarton configurations that produce viewing windows for observingidentifying indicia on the insert from the exterior of the carton.

2. Description of the Prior Art The need for an inexpensive,mass-produced, easily fabricated, resealable carton for storing,displaying and dispensing pill samples in a sanitary manner has beenrecognized for many years. Since several million pills are distributedannually as samples to physicians, pharmacists, testing laboratories andallied medical personnel, the saving of even a fraction of a cent percarton has become a paramount consideration for the manufacturer anddistributor of the pill sample. The quest for a suitable carton with asatisfactory pill sample holder has produced a multitude of diverseconfigurations for both the carton and for the pill holders. A pillsample holder comprising a plurality of thermoformed, clear plasticblisters joined to a rigid foil support member has met with widespreadcommercial and consumer acceptance; thus more recently, the quest hasbeen channeled toward finding suitable cartons that were compatible withthe rigid foil support member.

One compatible carton is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,556,388, issued onJan. 19, 1971 to Karl Klein. The pill holder, which assumes thedesirable form of a plurality of plastic blisters on a rigid foilinsert, is secured to such carton by a glue line extending along thelongitudinal dimension of the trailing edge of the blank, as seen inFIG. 12 of the patent. The carton is sealed to the top wall of theerected carton prior to usage by dots of adhesive on the leading flap.After being opened, the carton is resealed by inserting the taperedtongue of the leading flap into an appropriate groove in the uppersurface of the assembled carton.

In its commercial embodiment, the batch number that identifies the pillsample is printed on the interior face of the trailing edge adjacent tothe glue line. The batch number is employed to control the distributionof the sample and to enable the recall of all samples made from the samebatch if subsequent, in-house testing procedures reveal shortcomings inthe efficacy, composition, or sanitary condition of the pills.

While the carton disclosed by the Klein patent is generally well-suitedfor distributing pill samples, it does possess several shortcomings. Forexample, due to the configuration of the blank, the control number isvisible only after the carton has been opened. Additionally, the pillsare held within a plurality of downwardly facing thermoformed plasticblisters and the rigid insert must be turned over before the pills canbe removed from the individual plastic blisters. Additionally, the glueline or strip joining the rear face of the insert to the trailing flapextends across the entire length of the flap, and a considerable amountof relatively expensive hot melt adhesive is consumed by this joiningprocedure.

SUMMARY With the above discussed defects of conventional cartons fordispensing pill samples clearly in mind, the

instant invention contemplates two embodiments of resealable paperboardcartons that enable the control number printed on the pill supportinginsert to be visible at all times from the exterior of the carton.Additionally, the instant invention discloses cartons that can beformed, filled and sealed with existing packaging machinery. Suchcartons are attractive in appearance, insure product security, anddisplay the pills in a faceup orientation when the package is opened.Furthermore, the configurations of the blanks of the instant inventionare designed so that the inserts are secured to the paperboard packageby reduced amounts of hot melt adhesive with attendant cost savings. Theinstant invention further contemplates unique methods of forming suchcartons in an expeditious fashion.

In the preferred embodiment, the advantages enumerated above areattributable to the provision of a tab upstru ck, or partially severed,from the bottom member of the carton blank. The insert is secured to thereduced area at the free end of the tab with the plastic blisterscontaining the pills in an upright position. The striking of the tabcreates a window in the bottom member of the carton, and the controlnumber printed on the insert is always visible through such window.

In the alternate embodiment, the advantages enumerated above areattributable to the provision of triangularly shaped tab memberspartially severed from the corners of the bottom member of the cartonblank by arcuate slots. The insert is retained in fixed position by afriction fit defined between the slightly raised tab members and thebottom member. The striking of the tab members creates windows in thebottom member of the carton, and the control number printed on theinsert is always visible through one or more of such windows.

Other subjects and advantages of the instant invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention when construedin connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a developed plan view of apreferred embodiment of the carton blank with the insert securedthereto, such blank being constructed in accordance with the principlesof the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section through a fragment of the preferredembodiment of the carton blank and the insert, such view being takenalong line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and in the direction indicated;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the erectedcarton, such view being taken from the left front comer of the cartonprior to opening same;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment oftheerected carton, such view being taken with the carton rotated fromthe position of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view identical to FIG. 3, but showing the cartonbeing resealed;

FIG. 6 is a developed plan view of an alternative em bodiment of thecarton blank with the insert retained therein;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section through the alternative embodiment ofthe carton blank and the insert, such view being taken along line 77 inFIG. 6 and in the direction indicated;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the insert isslipped into engagement with the alternative embodiment of the cartonblank; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of theerected carton.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in greater detail to thedrawings in which identical elements are designated by identicalreference numerals, the preferred embodiment of the unique carton blankis indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Consideringthe top of blank 10 to be the leading end of the blank, blank 10comprises a leading flap 12 with a triangular edge, a first fold line14, a first overlapping segment 16, a second fold line 18, a rectangularbottom member 20, a third fold line 22, a first sidewall 24, a fourthfold line 26, a rectangular trailing flap 28, a fifth fold line 30, anda second sidewall 32. Leading flap 12 has a single spot of adhesive 34located thereon at a point below the apex of its triangular leadingedge, while trailing flap 28 has a groove 36 removed therefrom. Therightwardly extending segment of blank 10 is completed by sixth foldline 38 adjacent to bottom member 20, third sidewall 40, seventh foldline 42, and first top support segment 44. The leftwardly extendingsegment of blank 10 is completed by eighth fold line 46 adjacent tobottom member 20, fourth sidewall 48, ninth fold line 50, and second topsupport segment 52.

A tab 54 is partially upstruck or severed from bottom member adjacent tofold line 38, which forms one boundary of the rectangular bottom member.Tab 54 resembles a truncated triangle, and edges 55, 57 and 59 are freedfrom bottom member 20. The outer, fixed end of tab 54 is defined by asegment of fold line 38, and the inner free end of the tab can bepivoted 180 about the fold line. A rigid foil insert or card 56 issecured by hot melt adhesive (not shown) to the inner free end of tab 54adjacent to edge 55, the smallest area of the tab.

Card 56 is generally rectangular in configuration and fits within foldline 18, 38, 22 and 46 that define the boundaries of bottom member 20. Atear line 58 extends down the center of the card, so that it may bedivided into two equal segments. Four thermoformed, clear plasticblisters or enclosures 60, 62, 64 and 66 are spaced about card 56, and apill P is retained within each blister. The blisters function to keepthe pills P in a sanitary and moisture proof atmosphere, so that theefficacy of the pills is maintained for the life of the carton.

FIG. 2 shows the manner ofjoining card 56 to tab 54 with increasedclarity. Since tab 54 has been upstruck or partially severed from bottommember 20 with one edge defined by fold line 38, the tab, with card 56secured thereto, is pivotable through an angle of 180. Consequently,printed matter appearing on the lower face of card 56, such as the batchnumber, can be observed without turning the carton over.

FIGS. 3-5 depict the erected carton of the preferred embodiment whereinleading flap 12 rests upon the planar surface defined by rectangulartrailing flap 28. Top support segments 44 and 52 extend beneath andparallel to flap 28, and sidewall segment 32 folds interiorly ofsidewall segment 16 for increasing the rigidity of the erected carton.Adhesive spot 34 joins leading flap 12 to flap 28 with the forwardtriangularly shaped edge of flap 12 covering cut-out 36 (see FIG. 3).

After the carton has been opened by separating flap 12 from the planarsurface of flap 28, card 56 is visible in a face-up orientation with thepills P clearly displayed. After removing the prescribed or desireddosage, the carton is resealed by inserting the forward, triangularlyshaped edge of flap 12 into cut-out 36 (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 4 shows that a portion of the rear face of card 56 is visible atall times through the window 68 left in bottom 20 by the die cuttingoperation that formed and struck tab 54. The dimensions of window 68 areidentical to the dimension of tab 54. The batch number from which pillsP within the carton have been taken is always visible. Thus, ifsubsequent testing procedures reveal a substandard batch of pills or ifthe expiration date for efficacious use has passed, the batch numbersfor the pills in the erected cartons can be visually inspected throughwindow 68 and only samples with selected batch numbers will be recalled.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a carton constructedin accordance with the principles of the instant invention. Thus, FIG. 6shows the alternative configuration of the carton blank, such blankbeing indicated generally by reference numeral 70. Considering the topof blank 70 to the leading edge of the blank, blank 70 comprises aleading flap 72, a first fold line 74, a first sidewall 76, a secondfold line 78, a rectangular bottom member 80, a third fold line 82, asecond sidewall 84, a fourth fold line 86, and a trailing flap 88.Leading flap 72 has a single spot of adhesive placed thereon below theapex of its triangular leading edge, while trailing flap 88 has a groove92 removed therefrom. The rightwardly extending segment of blank 70 iscompleted by fifth fold line 94, third sidewall 96, sixth fold line 98,and first top support segment 100. The leftwardly extending segment ofblank 70 is completed by seventh fold line 102, fourth sidewall 104,eighth fold line 106, and second top support segment 108.

Triangularly shaped tab members and 112 are formed in the corners ofbottom member 80 by die cutting or slitting arcuate slots extending fromfold line 78 to fold lines 94 and 102, respectively. The fixed edges oftab 110 are coextensive with a portion of fold lines 78 and 102, whilethe fixed edges of tab 112 are coextensive with a portion of fold lines78 and 94. The forming of the slots raises the curved free edge of eachtab slightly above the plane of bottom member 80, as shown in FIG. 7.Consequently, a rigid foil insert or card 114 that is identical toinsert or card 56 shown in FIGS. 1-3, can be inserted into the slots andretained in fixed position by tabs 110 and 112. The thickness of insert114 is slightly greater than the spacing between the underside of tabs110 and 112 and bottom member 80 so that insert 114, once slippedtherebetween, is retained in fixed position by a force fit. Such forcefit obviates the need for securing the insert to the tab with hot meltadhesive. Furthermore, although insert 114 is illustrated as beingmanually inserted into engagement with tabs 110 and 112, the insertingoperation can be effectuated with equal facility by conventionalautomated machinery.

As shown in FIG. 9, the formation of tabs 110 and 112 simultaneouslycreates viewing windows through which printed matter appearing on thelower face of card 114, such as the batch number, can be observedwithout opening the carton. Consequently, as previously noted, asubstandard batch of pills can easily be identified and recalled withoutopening the cartons.

Manifestly, numerous modifications will be suggested to the artisanregarding the size, number, location and configuration of the tabs,flaps, fold lines, etc., of the above described blanks. Additionally,the artisan will realize various techniques for erecting the carton.Obviously, merchandise other than pills could be stored within theindividual plastic blisters. Consequently, the subject matterhereinabove described or depicted in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative in nature and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A carton for retaining and dispensing pills in a sanitary fashion,said carton comprising a. a paperboard blank including a leading flap, aplurality of sidewalls, a trailing flap, a bottom member and fold linesseparating the flaps from the bottom member and the sidewalls.

b. said blank being erected into a carton of rectangular configurationwith said leading flap being secured to said trailing flap,

c. a rigid insert being smaller in size than the bottom member of saidcarton,

d. a plurality of pockets joined to said insert, each pocket beingadapted to retain a pill therein,

e. identifying indicia imprinted on said insert, the invention beingcharacterized by:

l. tab means partially severed from said bottom member,

2. said tab means including a fixed edge coextensive with at least oneof the fold lines demarcating the boundaries of the bottom member of thecarton,

3. viewing means defined within said bottom member by the partialseverance of said tab means,

4. said insert being retained in fixed position by said tab means withits pockets in a face-up orientation and the identifying indicia in afacedown orientation so that the identifying indicia on said insert canbe observed through said viewing means from the exterior of the erectedcarton without opening the carton to expose the pockets on said insert.

2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab means comprises a tabthat assumes the form of a truncated triangle, said bottom member beingcut to release at least the free end of said tab from said bottommemher.

3. A carton as defined in claim l wherein said tab means comprises apair of spaced, triangularly shaped tabs, said bottom member havingslots formed therein to release the free end of the tabs from saidbottom member, the formation of said slots elevating the tabs above theplane of said bottom member.

1. A carton for retaining and dispensing pills in a sanitary fashion,said carton comprising a. a paperboard blank including a leading flap, aplurality of sidewalls, a trailing flap, a bottom member and fold linesseparating the flaps from the bottom member and the sidewalls. b. saidblank being erected into a carton of rectangular configuration with saidleading flap being secured to said trailing flap, c. a rigid insertbeing smaller in size than the bottom member of said carton, d. aplurality of pockets joined to said insert, each pocket being adapted toretain a pill therein, e. identifying indicia imprinted on said insert,the invention being characterized by:
 1. tab means partially severedfrom said bottom member,
 2. said tab means including a fixed edgeco-extensive with at least one of the fold lines demarcating theboundaries of the bottom member of the carton,
 3. viewing means definedwithin said bottom member by the partial severance of said tab means, 4.said insert being retained in fixed position by said tab means with itspockets in a face-up orientation and the identifying indicia in aface-down orientation so that the identifying indicia on said insert canbe observed through said viewing means from the exterior of the erectedcarton without opening the carton to expose the pockets on said insert.2. said tab means including a fixed edge co-extensive with at least oneof the fold lines demarcating the boundaries of the bottom member of thecarton,
 2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said tab meanscomprises a tab that assumes the form of a truncated triangle, saidbottom member being cut to release at least the free end of said tabfrom said bottom member.
 3. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtab means comprises a pair of spaced, triangularly shaped tabs, saidbottom member having slots formed therein to release the free end of thetabs from said bottom member, the formation of said slots elevating thetabs above the plane of said bottom member.
 3. viewing means definedwithin said bottom member by the partial severance of said tab means, 4.said insert being retained in fixed position by said tab means with itspockets in a face-up orientation and the identifying indicia in aface-down orientation so that the identifying indicia on said insert canbe observed through said viewing means from the exterior of the erectedcarton without opening the carton to expose the pockets on said insert.